3 separate Golden Gate Estates brush fires scorches 500 acres

The Florida Division of Forestry and nearly every fire rescue district in Collier County fought three different brush fires in Golden Gate Estates the evening of Tuesday, April 26, 2011.

A Google map of the three brush fires Tuesday in Golden Gate Estates.

Noriel Lopez, 65, was potting plants on the 29-acre Golden Gate Estates farm where he lives when he saw the smoke. It was coming from one of three lightning-initiated brush fires that flared up Tuesday afternoon in rural Collier County.

Lopez grabbed some belongings from his trailer, released the farm's chickens and began the hunt for this three dogs. He was in the path of the largest of Tuesday's fires. It would scorch 500 acres. It would also destroy the trailer and farm Lopez has called his home since 2005.

"I'm concerned. I've had many things get burned," Lopez said, adding that he would now have to start over. "I feel sad about what happened."

The Tuesday fires also sent smoke over Interstate 75, threatened four structures, caused one firefighter to suffer a minor injury and required an all-evening assault by the Florida Division of Forestry and nearly every fire rescue district in Collier County to contain.

Calls started coming in after 2 p.m., Division of Forestry Spokesman Victor Hill said. The fire that destroyed Lopez's home was south of 28th Avenue Southeast.

"There is going to be smoke all over Collier County tonight," Hill said shortly after he responded to the fire.

A second fire, this one south of I-75 off of Beck Road, grew to 50 acres and led to signs warning of smoky conditions between mile markers 95 and 100 being placed near the Alligator Alley toll booths. The third fire, which grew to 15 acres, started southeast of where Keane Avenue becomes Brantley Boulevard in the Estates.

All of the fires were under control by 8:30 p.m.

It isn't unusual for three fires to spark up during a period of dry conditions, little rain and lightning, Hill said. But it hasn't happened in a while, he added.

"We're ready for it, and it doesn't surprise us, but it does cause us to get a lot of units out in a hurry," Hill said.

A Collier County Sheriff's Office helicopter assisted from the beginning, helping officials coordinate the numerous brush trucks, Division of Forestry bulldozers and other fire vehicles on the ground. The Division of Forestry then sent in its airplane and a helicopter that dumped a 300-gallon water bucket in key areas.

Years of vegetation that was killed by the past's colder-than-normal winters fueled the largest of the fires, Hill said.

Daniel Penate, 49, who lives near the 28th Avenue Southeast and Everglades Boulevard intersection, said he had never seen a fire this close to his home.

"It's kind of scary when you see something like this that's kind of out of control," Penate said at 6 p.m., when the big fire was only 5 percent contained. "I have my sprinkler out just in case."

Lopez had found two of his dogs not too long after he saw the smoke. Brownie and Brownie Boy were safe, he knew.

"This was the last one," Lopez said, holding Mr. Brown's leash. His bicycle in his other hand, Lopez went down the street to meet up with friends he said would help him while he figured out his next move.

8:30 P.M. UPDATE

Firefighters had contained three separate brush fires in Golden Gate Estates tonight. One of the three fires was more than 500 acres, while another one threatened to close Interstate 75 just east of the Alligator Alley toll booth.

Firefighters had feared the blaze would jump the interstate, and smoke was visible for miles - especially near the freeway - for much of the afternoon.

8 P.M. UPDATE

The smallest of the three brush fires, the 15-acre one near Keane Avenue, was fully contained.

Meanwhile, the 340-acre blaze - the largest of the three - is now 500 acres.

6:50 P.M. UPDATE

A brush fire that was 200 acres has now expanded to 340 acres, fire officials say.

The good news is that the same fire - in the area of 38th Avenue Southeast - is now 30 percent contained, they said.

5:50 p.m. UPDATE

A 40-acre brush fire in Golden Gate Estates is now 200 yards south of Interstate 75, officials say.

Firefighters are concerned the blaze may jump the freeway, said Emilio Rodriguez, Isles of Capri fire chief.

5:20 p.m. UPDATE

The Florida Division of Forestry and nearly every fire rescue district in Collier County are fighting three different brush fires in Golden Gate Estates.

One of the fires is 200 acres in size, only 5 percent contained and is threatening four homes, Forestry Spokesman Victor Hill said. The larger fire is in the area of 38th Avenue Southeast, and voluntary evacuations have been ordered in the area, North Naples Fire Chief Orly Stoltz said.

Estimating the size of the other fires has been tricky as all crews are working quickly to contain the flames, Hill said.

One of the other fires is southeast of where Keane Avenue becomes Brantley Boulevard, Hill said. The third fire is off the eastern most end of Beck Boulevard, Hill said.

The fire off Beck Boulevard, which runs along Interstate 75, is threatening to jump over the interstate, according to scanner reports. Signs have been placed on I-75 warning of smoke between mile marker 95 and 100 in the area of the Alligator Alley toll booth.

"There is going to be smoke all over Collier County tonight," Hill said.

Hill said having three active brush fires is not unusual. He said the suspicion was that the fires were started by lightning that was not followed by much rain, which combined with dry conditions can create a multiple brush fire situation. These fires are in difficult-to-reach locations, he added.

"We haven't had fires like this in a while. We're ready for it, and it doesn't surprise us, but it does cause us to get a lot of units out in a hurry," Hill said. "If, in fact, these turn out to be lightning fires ... this is just what happens, unfortunately."